Protective device for condenser tubes

ABSTRACT

A protective device for the condenser tubes of a steam surface condenser. A baffle arrangement prevents direct impingement of high velocity against the tube bundles closest to the condenser inlet. Legs extend from the baffle between the individual tubes of the tube bundles to substantially dampen vibrations of the tubes.

United States Patent 13,568,763

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1969 Stoker...........i..............

[72] Inventors RobertJ. Stoker Phillipsburg, NJ.;

Donald A. Halpin, Easton, Pa. [21] Appl.No. 802,441

FOREIGN PATENTS [22] Filed Feb. 26, 1969 m n mm "a a t nD n a ma re" or e 66% 86 26 99 a 11 Hu 1 m 35m 5 ,W 97 a 6 m n P. v. n a D. m 0 dY HEN am 1 900 9 .m rew ame MIN 06 em Hg PA I] 53 47 [I Attorneys-Carl R. Horten, David W. Tibbott and Frank H.

Thomson 9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

ABSTRACT: A protective device for the condenser tubes of a steam surface condenser. A baffle arrangement prevents direct impingement of high velocity against the tube bundles closest to the condenser inlet. Legs extend from the baffle between the individual tubes of the tube bundles to substantially dampen vibrations of the tubes.

PATENTED an em INVENTORS ROBE/PT .1. 570x51? DONALD A. HALF/N WW ATTORNEY PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR CONDENSER TUBES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to steam surface condensers and in particular to a condenser tube protective device for use with such condensers. The invention provides apparatus for preventing direct impingement of moisture-laden high velocity steam against the condenser tubes and apparatus for substantially dampening the vibration of the individual tubes of the tube bundles causes bythe flow of high-velocity steam.

It is known that the direct impingement of high-velocity steam against thetube bundles adjacent the condenser inlet will cause erosion of the-tubes and eventually lead to tube failure. One prior apparatus for preventing the direct impingement of high-velocity steam is shown in US. Pat. application Ser. No. 699,710, filed Jan. 22, 1968, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,472,315, granted Oct. 14, 1969. Although such prior apparatus does an effective job of preventing erosion of the tube bundles due to the direct impingement of the moisture laden steam, it does not solve the problem of tube failure caused by vibration of the tube bundles.

Attempts have been made to reduce the vibration of the tube bundles by closer spacing of the tube support plates and by positioning additional support elements between the tube sheets. Such attempts have not, however, been altogether satisfactory in dampening tube vibration.

SUMMARY It is therefore the principal object of this invention to provide a novel apparatus for preventing direct impingement of high-velocity steam against the tube bundles and for substantially dampening vibration of the tube bundles.

The foregoing and other objects will, in general, be carried out by providing in combination a condenser having an inlet for steam to be condensed, a plurality of spaced-apart tube bundles each including a plurality of individual tubes for carrying cooling fluid, and apparatus for preventing direct impingement of high-velocity steam against and dampening vibration of the individual tubes which form the tube bundles closest to said inlet comprising: a plurality of spaced-apart baffle means positioned between the condenser inlet and the tube bundles for directing the major portion of steam between said tube bundles; and means secured to said baffle means and extending into said tube bundles for dampening vibrations of the individual tubes which form said tube bundles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OFTI-IE DRAWING The invention will be described in connection with the annexed drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a condenser employing one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the protective device of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a view showing a modification of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1 there is shown a condenser generally indicated at 1 having a steam dome 2 secured to the top of the condenser. The steam dome 2 defines an inlet 3 for the condenser. A conventional feed water heater 4 is provided. In general, there will be areas of maximum velocity incoming steam. The location of these areas will depend upon the conditions of service and the type of turbine used. For one application, the areas of maximum velocity incoming steam may be located as shown in FIG. 1 where these areas have been shown in broken lines and designated by the numeral 5. It is intended that the present invention will be applied in the areas of maximum velocity incoming steam, but in certain applications, it may be desirable to extend the protective apparatus over the entire inlet.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a portion of the inside of a condenser which is adjacent the inlet and includes the tube bundles protective device of the present invention. The inside of a surface condenser includes a plurality of spacedapart tube bundles 10 which are formed of a plurality of individual tubes 11. Each of these tubes carries a suitable cooling fluid. In the configuration shown, the individual tubes 11 are aligned in rows. Tube support plates 12 are provided for supporting the tube bundles. Although a single support plate has been shown, a completed condenser will include several spaced-apart tube support plates. With prior apparatus the steam entering the condenser will impinge directly against the tube bundles 10. Such direct impingement will cause erosion of the tubes which will eventually cause failure of the tubes and necessitate their replacement.

shaped baffles 15 have been provided. Each baffle 15 overlies a tube bundle l0 and has a base dimension substantially equal to the width of the tube bundles. The baffles 15 are mounted on the tube support plates 10 as shown in FIG. 2. As steam en- 7 ters the inlet of the condenser, it will strike the impingement protecting baffles 15 rather than the tubes 11. Although erosion of the baffles 15 will occur such erosion will not effect condenser performance to the extent that erosion of condenser tubes effects performance. The triangular shape of the baffle 15 with its apex pointed toward the condenser inlet provides a good flow path for directing incoming steam between the tube bundles. By the time the steam reaches the lower tube bundles (not shown), its velocity has been reduced to an amount such that direct impingement on the condenser tubes will not cause substantial erosion.

Secured to and depending downwardly from the baffles- 15 are a plurality of spaced-apart vibration dampening means generally indicatedat 20. The vibration preventing means 20 is generally in the form of aY and includes a pair of fingers 21 which are secured to the baffle 15 as by welding. The fingers extend downwardly between the rows of the tubes as clearly shown in FIG. 2. The fingers are spaced apart a distance equal to the outside diameter of the individual tubes so that the fingers contact each of the tubes. There is at least one and preferably a pair of spaced-apart finger means or vibration dampening means 20 between each of the tube support plates 12. As high-velocity steam passes through the tube bundles 10, the finger means 20 holds the individual tubes and substantially dampens the amount of vibration heretofore in duced by the flowing steam. The particular configuration serves to hold the individual tubes and thereby dampen vibrations yet does not interfere with steam flow.

As a modification of the present invention, the baffle elements 15 may be replaced by a tubular member 25 such as that shown in FIG. 3. Secured to the pipe 25 by means of an eye 31 and extending downwardly therefrom between the individual tubes 11 is a vibration preventing means 30 which includes a pair of downwardly extending fingers 32, which, like the embodiment to FIG. 2, contact and hold the individual tubes 11 is a vibration-preventing means 30 which includes a pair of downwardly extending fingers 32, which, like the embodiment to FIG. 2, contact and hold the individual tubes 11.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the objects of this invention have been carried out. A baffle arrangement for preventing direct impingement of high-velocity steam and directing the steam between the tube bundles for most efficient condensing has been provided. An arrangement for substantially dampening vibrations of the tubes due to the flow of high-velocity steam.

We claim:

1. In combination, a condenser having an inlet for steam to be condensed, a plurality of spaced-apart tube bundles each including a plurality of individual tubes for carrying cooling fluid, and apparatus for preventing direct impingement of high-velocity steam against and dampening vibration of the individual tubes which form the tube bundles closest to said inlet comprising:

a plurality of spaced-apart bafile means positioned between the condenser inlet and the tube bundles for directing the major portion of steam between said tube bundles; and

means secured to said baffle means and extending into said tube bundles for dampening vibrations of the individual tubes which form said tube bundles; wherein: said means for dampening vibrations includes both tube support plates and a pair of fingers, each of said fingers extending between said individual tubes and wherein at least some of said individual tubes are held by said fingers.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said fingers are spaced apart a distance equal to the outside diameter of said individual tubes.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said baffle means overlies one of said tube bundles and has a width substantially equal to the width of said tube bundles.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said baffle means is triangular in configuration having its apex facing the inlet of the condenser.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said means for dampening vibrations includes a pair of fingers each extending between said individual tubes and at least some of said individual tubes are held by said fingers.

6. In combination, a condenser having an inlet for steam to be condensed, a plurality of spaced-apart tube bundles each including a plurality of individual tubes for carrying cooling fluid, means for supporting said tube bundles, and apparatus for preventing direct impingement of high-velocity steam against and dampening vibrations of the individual tubes which form the tube bundles closest to said inlet comprising:

a plurality of spaced-apart baffie means positioned between said inlet and the tube bundles for directing the major portion of steam between said tube bundles; and

at least a pair of spaced-apart finger means secured to said baffle means and extending toward said tube bundles for dampening vibrations of the-individual tubes which form said tube bundles; wherein: said baffle means is mounted on said supporting means.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein each of said finger means includes a pair of substantially rigid fingers extending from said baffie means between the individual tubes of said tube bundles.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein each of said baffle means is triangular in configuration and overlies one of said tube bundles and has a base dimension substantially equal to the width of said tube bundles.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein the fingers of said finger means are spaced apart a distance equal to the outside diameter of said tubes. 

1. In combination, a condenser having an inlet for steam to be condensed, a plurality of spaced-apart tube bundles each including a plurality of individual tubes for carrying cooling fluid, and apparatus for preventing direct impingement of highvelocity steam against and dampening vibration of the individual tubes which form the tube bundles closest to said inlet comprising: a plurality of spaced-apart baffle means positioned between the condenser inlet and the tube bundles for directing the major portion of steam between said tube bundles; and means secured to said baffle means and extending into said tube bundles for dampening vibrations of the individual tubes which form said tube bundles; wherein: said means for dampening vibrations includes both tube support plates and a pair of fingers, each of said fingers extending between said individual tubes and wherein at least some of said individual tubes are held by said fingers.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said fingers are spaced apart a distance equal to the outside diameter of said individual tubes.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said baffle means overlies one of said tube bundles and has a width substantially equal to the width of said tube bundles.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said baffle means is triangular in configuration having its apex facing the inlet of the condenser.
 5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said means for dampening vibrations includes a pair of fingers each extending between said individual tubes and at least some of said individual tubes are held by said fingers.
 6. In combination, a condenser having an inlet for steam to be condensed, a plurality of spaced-apart tube bundles each including a plurality of individual tubes for carrying cooling fluid, means for supporting said tube bundles, and apparatus for preventing direct impingement of high-velocity steam against and dampening vibrations of the individual tubes which form the tube bundles closest to said inlet comprising: a plurality of spaced-apart baffle means positioned between said inlet and the tube bundles for directing the major portion of steam between said tube bundles; and at least a pair of spaced-apart finger means secured to said baffle means and extending toward said tube bundles for dampening vibrations of the individual tubes which form said tube bundles; wherein: said baffle means is mounted on said supporting means.
 7. The combination of claim 6 wherein each of said finger means includes a pair of substantially rigid fingers extending from said baffle means between the individual tubes of said tube bundles.
 8. The combination of claim 7 wherein each of said baffle means is triangular in configuration and overlies one of said tube bundles and has a base dimension substantially equal to the width of said tube bundles.
 9. The combination of claim 8 wherein the fingers of said finger means are spaced apart a distance equal to the outside diameter of said tubes. 